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Human Events Stories

Camarines Sur Farmers Aim to Top Corn Production in Bicol Region

Farmers of Bato town of Camarines Sur province cluster their farms into a vast area for corn plantation as the municipality gears toward top production of the crop in the entire Bicol region. The DA’s regional field unit in Pili, Camarines Sur, recently held a two-day consultation, planning workshop and […]

Legazpi City is Set to Construct P80-M Hospital in Reclamation Area

The city government of Legazpi is set to put up an P80-million hospital in a 3,000-square-meter site at the reclamation area. Health officials believe the site is conducive to health, being at a prime coastal location and near the city center. The project will start next year, ahead of the […]

651 trees on Naga City main thoroughfare presents road block to proposed widening

651 trees on Naga City main thoroughfare presents road block to proposed widening The Department of Public Works and Highways in Bicol has lined up a road widening project which will pass by the city of Naga encompassing the national road that traverses the barangays of Concepcion Pequeña, Concepcion Grande, […]

Bicol Regional Unemployment Rate Balloons to 7.8 Percent in April

Employment rate in the Bicol region dropped by 0.9 percentage point in April this year in comparison to the same period last year. This information was released by the National Statistics Office based on the result of their current labor force survey. The jobless rate in April of 2012 was […]

55 Towns, 5 Cities in Bicol Vulnerable to Landslide and Flooding

The Bureau of Mines and Geosciences in Bicol (MGB-V) reiterates its previous warning made earlier this year to residents of at least five cities and 55 towns in all six provinces of the region highly susceptible to landslide and flooding. Regional Director Engr. Theodore Rommel E. Pestano said “… with […]

Search and Rescue of Missing Passengers of Masbate RORO Sea Mishap Over

The Bicol regional branch in Legazpi city of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday said teams had terminated the three-day search and rescue operations for the remaining missing passengers of the MV Lady of Mount Carmel, a roll on-roll-off passenger-cargo vessel that sank early Friday morning at the […]

Manila Standard Today Posted Erroneous Title of Masbate Sea Mishap

It isn’t funny anymore with the not-once-in-a-blue-moon errors of national dailies on news coverages which detail events outside Manila. This time, have you noticed the news from Manila Standard Today about the “Ship sinks off Bohol, 2 killed, 12 missing” posted on Jun. 15, 2013 at 12:02am and bylined by […]

Forty Passengers Rescued, 2 Die off Masbate RORO Sea Mishap

Legazpi city, June 14 (PNA) – At least 40 survivors and two dead persons who were aboard a passenger-cargo vessel that sank in the waters of Burias Pass early morning today have been retrieved by search and rescue operatives starting at about 7 a.m. today, according to a report of […]

We Will Remember the Campaign Promise of the President in Calabanga

During the campaign period for the mid-term elections, President Benigno S. Aquino III. Aquino III, made whirlwind visits of cities and municipalities in the Bicol region. These video coverage courtesy of RTV Malacañang highlights the president’s campaign visit in the municipality of Calabanga at the Octagon multi-purpose hall. President Benigno […]

The Tiny Island off Cawayan Town has Similarities with Liouciou

In the midst of excitement and confusion attendant to the just concluded political exercise was the incident that happened in the vicinities below Batanes islands, but more specifically in the Balintang channel involving foreign fishermen and the Philippine coastguard personnel. We will not delve into the details and legalities of […]

After Election, Now What? It is Payback Time in Bicol!

The day after the mid-term elections, expect things will be back to same old same old. (Tulad ng dati.) The poor remains poor. Some neighbors at the back house had an appointed chance of getting “dole-out moneys” from candidates’ crisp peso notes with the smiley face of a Ninoy are […]

Masbate Province And City Winners and Losers May 13, 2013 Elections

PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR of MASBATE LANETE, DAYAN (NPC) 127,173 KHO, TONY (LAKAS) 105,973 CASAS, PADRE LEO (LP) 24,078 ALBURO, ROMEO JR. (KBL) 3,334 PROVINCIAL VICE-GOVERNOR of MASBATE REVIL, VINCE (NPC) 132,179 TUASON, BOY (LP) 58,601 LEGASPI, DOK NONOY (AKSYON) 22,310 MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN of MASBATE – SECOND PROVDIST REVIL, KAYE (NPC) […]

Pili CamSur Capital Winners and Losers May 13, 2013 Elections

MAYOR of PILI SAN LUIS, ALEXIS II (LP) 17,285 BONGALONTA, TOM (NP) 12,506 VICE-MAYOR of PILI REGONDOLA, ROGELIO RAYMUND(LP) 17,143 BOCLOT, RONALDO (NP) 11,404 MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG BAYAN of PILI – LONE DIST DIVINAGRACIA, RAUL DELFIN (NP) 16,953 BELEN, FRANCIS (NP) 14,307 BOLANOS, JOEL (LP) 13,126 MALATE, ADAM (LP) 12,087 SALAZAR, […]

Calabanga Winners and Losers of May 13, 2013 Elections

Mayor SEVERO, EDUARDO (NPC) NATIONALIST PEOPLES’ COALITION 14,335 DUMALASA, PHILIP (LP) LIBERAL PARTY 13,508 CALISURA, CARDING (PDP) PARTIDO DEMOKRATIKO PILIPINO LAKAS NG BAYAN 3,697 Vice Mayor ROBLES, RAMONCITO (LP) LIBERAL PARTY 16,527 GONZALES, DANNY (NPC) NATIONALIST PEOPLES’ COALITION 10,690 MEMBER, SANGGUNIANG BAYAN of CAMARINES SUR – CALABANGA – LONE DIST […]

Watch a PAL Plane Takes Off from Legazpi Airport

Just uploaded an extended video of a Philippine Airlines plane taking off from Legazpi airport as viewed from the upper side of Ligñon hill. The unobstructed view was a welcome opportunity but somehow dampened by a cloudy sky. Still it was worth it. While the native sound was toned down […]

Living by the Hillside Provides a Healthful Respite

“The real reason for physical fitness goes beyond the benefits one accrues from a healthy lifestyle,” is a famous line by Richard H. Utt. I personally believe it could be the dogma of every person who believes that Life is the most precious gift given by GOD. Therefore, it is […]

Many Bicol Families Live Dirt Poor and Always Hungry

Darnel (not his real name) lives with his family in an informal satellite community in the municipality of Calabanga. His parents and grandparents are neighbors in makeshift nipa huts which barely can be considered decent living structures on lands owned by the government, particularly by the National Irrigation Administration, as […]

Sorsogon highly dependent Bicol province on IRA share for fiscal year 2009

The short discussion here will delve on the “External Sources” of income by the provincial local governments. That is specifically referring to the LGU share in (1) Internal Revenue Allotment, (2) other shares from the National Tax collections, (3) inter-local transfer, (4) and extraordinary receipts, grants donations and aids. The […]

CamSur Ranks 22nd in the 2009 Tax Revenue of PH Provinces

Here is the unofficial financial data about the Philippine provinces on tax revenue for fiscal year 2009.  Tax revenue include real property, tax on business and other taxes. Of the 80 provinces, 11 collected property tax over P155M. The list is topped by Pangasinan with collection of P437,984,080; followed by […]

Why Are All These Candidates Running in the Election?

Calabanga, April 12 — In the local scene, one wonders why so many candidates are running in the May elections? Twenty three individuals jockey for seats less than a third of the number in the sangguniang bayan and yet they hang on the campaign trail. “As if the incumbents have […]

Catanduanes, Church, Renews Stand VS Coal Mining

From the glory hole, the provincial government of Catanduanes has retrieved a resolution it used to repel a coal mining in the province four years ago, this time for use against a similar venture that an Australian firm is pressing on. The provincial legislative board recently passed a measure that […]

Albay to Stage 50-Mile Run Around Mt. Mayon

Albay province will stage a 50-mile run during the celebration of Daragang Magayon Festival on April 6. The marathon will test the endurance and speed of runners who will compete in the Mayon 360º, a run around the circumference of Mt. Mayon. The race is one of the sports highlight […]

Albay Marks World Water Day with Scubasura

(PNA) – A group of Bicolano divers did their share of cleaning Albay’s marine environment with a seabed clean-up activity off the coastline of Legazpi city. The event was tagged as scubasura which marked the recent observance of the World Water Day. The drive was spearheaded by the regional office […]

Juban, Irosin Towns Get Flood Warning System from Germany

Juban, Sorsogon (PNA) — A German agency is providing a flood warning system along a major river that serves as flood path of rain water coming from the slope of Mt. Bulusan. To be put up along Cadac-an River, which stretches from the lower slope of the volcano and traverses […]

Only in Barangay San Pablo, Too

San Pablo, Calabanga — The poblacion barangay of San Pablo, this town, is a stone’s throw from the church of Our Lady of La Porteria. Despite a small and limited land area, it is host to the local (municipal) government center. The municipal hall occupies the western portion of the […]

CamNorte Gets Big Allocation for Hiring Teachers

Legazpi city, (PNA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) will be hiring about 3,000 new public school teachers for the next school year in Bicol. But the region’s smallest province of Camarines Norte is getting the biggest share. The DepEd regional office based at the Regional Government Center in barangay […]

Porteria Parish Semana Santa Festivities 2013 Part 2

This is part two of Semana Santa schedule of activities and programs as released by the parish pastoral council of Our Lady of Porteria in Calabanga together with Rev. Fr. Abenson C. Martinez and Ref. Fr. Danilo V. Arnante. Domingo nin Pagkabuhay-Liwat ni Jesus (Please bring candles for the renewal […]

Cawayan Port, 19 Others, Get Okay for Expansion

The port of Cawayan in Masbate province is included amomg the twenty identified local ports around the country placed under the direct jurisdiction of a national government agency to ensure support for the growing business and trade in their respective region. In a series of executive orders last December 2012, […]

Calabanga Parish Releases Schedule of Semana Santa Festivities

The Catholic Parish Pastoral Council of Nuestra Señora de la Porteria in Calabanga has released the program and schedule of activities and festivities in the observance of Semana Santa 2013. Schedule of activities: Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) March 24- 6:00 AM Pagbendisyon kan Olivas asin Palmas Hosanna- Pagromdom kan […]

Aquino: Robredo Deadly Plane Crash Caused by Pilot Error

(PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III bared on Tuesday the results of the investigation of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on the ill-fated Piper Seneca that killed Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, saying it was mainly due to pilot error. The President said three […]

CCTV Footage Could Help Solve Lupi Mayor Slay Case

LEGAZPI CITY, (PNA) Update — The police authorities would utilize the video footage of a close circuit television (CCTV) camera installed at the electronics repair shop where the shooting of Lupi mayor Raul Matamorosa took place last Saturday afternoon (October 27). The other day, a witness came forward to tell […]

Calabanga Mangrove Plantation Threatened with Tussock Moths

The young mangrove plantation in the town of Calabanga is being threatened with widespread pest infestation as confirmed by the Legazpi city-based regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Information about the presence of insect defoliators came from the alert sounded off by the municipal government […]

PCSO Has Endless Resource of Wealth thru Gambling

We get it, legalized gambling in the country is more like a deep well of none-drying, endless resource of wealth. With the government agency Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in the forefront of gambling, can we ask for more? Proof that there is so much imaginable wealth the government agency […]

7 Bicol Island-Towns Has .21M Residents in 2010

Other than the two “big” island-provinces of Masbate and Catanduanes, there are several islands comprising 7 municipalities in the Bicol region. The island of Burias, west of Albay province and slightly north northwest of Masbate main island, hosts the towns of San Pascual and Claveria. Ticao island, near north of […]

Devotion to Peñafrancia is a Barometer of Bicolano’s Catholic Faith

There is no doubt about it, the Peñafrancia festivities is the acknowledged “Queen” of all in the Bicol region. The religious tableau commences with the Traslacion, the processional transfer of the images of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus and the Divino Rostro from the Basilica Minore in barangay […]

The Jesse Robredo Spell: How Long Will It Last?

In a country gnawed with incessant and unperturbed corruption in all levels of the government and public service, the uncommon yet outstanding ideals that the late DILG secretary Jesse Robredo represent, stood for, and lived by was as rare as the trace of water or liquid in the solar planet […]

Calabangueños Worldwide Celebrate Happy Fiesta

For a few days in every year, residents of Calabanga drop their daily toil to pay homage to the feast day of the Lady of the Porter (Nuestra Señora de la Porteria). Today is the 263rd of such commemorative event. Residents, tourists and guests converge on a seemingly endless merrymaking […]

Bishop Gainza Trade Fair Opens September 6 in Naga City

The 3rd Bishop Gainza trade fair opens tomorrow, September 6, in Naga city. According to organizers, the event will offer new twists which include locating the venue at downtown Naga, a few meters from the Metropolitan Cathedral. The site will attract thousands of foot traffic counting on the flock of […]

Have Dog, Will Bite

For the past five years or so, the text messages I usually receive from my sister or brothers in the province are simple updates about the family. Then I would call them on the phone to get more detailed information. And to hear their live and animated voices. I feel […]

From YouTube: Horrible Roadtrip to Siruma

As if the information posted in here on several instances about the town of Siruma may not be enough, yet, here comes a graphic understanding on what to expect on the road to the forsaken and almost forbidden frontier. Thanks to the abundance of resources at self publishing anything from […]

Hernandez Clan bereaved by demise of family members

For the well entrenched clan of Hernandez in Calabanga, the shadow of death come as a reminder of their being part of one root. Death become the source and cause of uncalled unhappy reunions, repeatedly as in the immediate past. Many family members may have found their way into distant […]

Denial or Whatever, Are We Really Independent?

On July 4, 1946, the Bicol High School led the celebration of independence day in Calabanga. One of the highlight of the occasion was a parade around the town with adorned floats of young maidens and men of the locality, many of whom were students of the distinguished school. It […]

Updated classification of Bicol towns based on 2008 earnings

Based on annual earnings listed here and here, the towns of Libon (ALB), Daraga (ALB), and Daet (CAN) led the top earners of Bicol LGUs for fiscal year 2008. Other towns now classified as first class that earned P55M or more, in order of their income starting from the top […]

Mangrove Planting and Reforestation Continue in Camarines Sur

Small worthy endeavors that unfold in the rural areas usually miss the media radar. Here we checked out the concerted efforts of unified youth organizations in a fresh wave of mass mangrove planting on Saturday, January 28. According to Marian Ramos the volunteers represent members from Skaters-Calabanga, Skaters-Naga, the National […]

La Salud Family Farm School Thrives in Calabanga

Five years after opening its gates to the first batch of students from the surrounding communities in barangay Sta. Salud of the municipality of Calabanga, the co-educational institution still thrives and is thriving well and good. We refer to the La Salud Family Farm School, the only one of its […]

Happy 2011 Town Fiesta Calabanga!!!

Still into the last day of the 2011 feast and festivities that is the Calabanga fiesta here in town. Townsfolk were treated to an array of eye googling parade of sights, sounds, colors, floats, majorettes, cadets, scouts, volunteers, civic organizations and LGU personnel, since the 6th of September.

DENR: Bicol Rivers and Lakes Hyacinth-Free

There is no fear that hyacinths or water lilies would clog rivers and lakes in Bicol to cause floods and pollution resulting in fish kills, the environmental management bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office in Legaspi said.

Fiesta Days Are Here Again in Calabanga

“Oh, Calabanga, gem of the province, We will stand with pride and dignity, We will watch your fragile beauty, With much love and care . . . ” The song goes on a never ending refrain as it brings in a hundred and one memories; some happy and some sad. […]

The Unbelievers Extol Camsur Tourism As A Myth?

When Camsur became a byword as an emerging tourist mecca, any claim to that effect needs tangible and statistical proof. It is not the tourists who come and repeatedly come who are dying and grandstanding to find the proof or will not stop until handed down the proof.

Rehabilitation of Camaligan Regional Fish Port Loses JICA Funding

The proposed rehabilitation of Camsur’s Camaligan fish port met a stumbling block with the withdrawal by its funding source. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has withdrawn as it rechannels funding at home in the aftermath of overwhelming devastation brought about by the earthquake and tsunami last March.

Local Agency Urges Non-Disturbance of Turtles Released by Saipan

Somewhere in the vicinity between Catanduanes and Guinahoan and Refugio island just north of Caramoan, Camarines Sur one sea turtle (pawikan) may be feeding or finding refuge or just passing by. The DENR office urges the public and those living in coastal communities not to capture the turtles nor attempt to remove their attached transmitters.

Kawit Island Begs for EcoTourism Development

The island of Cauit (Kawit) lies off the southeastern portion of the rich fishing waters of San Miguel bay, less than three kilometers from the shores of barangay Sibobo. It has a rugged shoreline with an approximate land area of 14.8 hectares or 36.57 acres. It is about 2 kilometers from tip to tip (west to east) in length and its widest at about 500 feet from north to south. Even with an irregular shoreline the island mimics a tadpole shape. Getting there means a 15 minute trip via a motorized boat from Sibobo.

What's Recommended

Francia Falcon Apelo, Educator

Francia Falcon Apelo, one of the pillars of the local educational community will be surely missed soon enough. She last handled the post of school counsellor at the Calabanga Polytechnic college (now the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture). Previous to that, she was well remembered at the Calabanga Central Division Pilot School for the several subjects she ably handled.

Family Survives Wrath of Nature and Human Error

How “bad events” struck twice in a row is a story so true and experienced by a good religious family in Daraga town, province of Albay. The first was brought about by the wrath of nature, the second by negligence and human error.

Watch video on a quick glimpse of San Miguel Bay

We share a short video taken in one of our visits at the shoreline of Sabang in the town of Calabanga. It took some time before we had the juice at putting together the video which at one occasion was thought to be of no good use. While we took […]

Bureau of Customs Legazpi Auctions Smuggled Rice from Vietnam

Bureau of Customs Legazpi Auctions Smuggled Rice from Vietnam. The Bureau of Customs Legazpi Office has auctioned off 94,000 bags, of smuggled rice from Vietnam for P154.5M, a BOC official said. Cris Paller, BOC Operation Officer 1 and auction committee chair, said the Dragon Grains Trading, owned by Jaime Ang […]

Tunay Masarap Pinakro Saging Saba

Really tastes good. Got to watch this ‘Masarap Saging na Saba Pinakro.’ This is a #short #shorts form video from a much longer how-to cooking of Pinakro using ripening or soon to ripe Saba banana. Much earlier posted were #shorts and long form video of my bro Bobby on harvesting […]

Divine Mercy Parish Celebrates Church Completion

The seven-year journey from its foundation and since the time capsule lowered down the ground, the Divine Mercy parish of Paolbo realized a long- sought dream, the final completion of the church edifice. The last phase that hindered the said event was the altar, the focal attraction of the building.

LIVESTREAM Penafrancia Fluvial Procession 2019

The culmination of the celebration of the Penafrancia festivities unfolds this afternoon with the mass outside, at the Quadricentennial arch, of the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. Watch the last mass before the foot procession starts winding through the streets of Naga city bringing the images of the Virgin of Penafrancia and […]

Bicol in power blackout after Typhoon Glenda

Officials of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said in a briefing that Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon in Region 5; and Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite and Rizal in Region 4, Bataan in Region 3 were all cut off from the grid as of 8:00 P.M., […]

Severe classroom shortage marked opening of classes in Albay

DARAGA, Albay, June 4 — The first day of classes in Albay was disorderly with jampacked classrooms that reminded one of a can of sardines. Some teachers even held classes in covered courts with black boards serving as dividers. The severe scarcity of classrooms was aggravated by the implementation of […]

Ombudsman sacks detained Masbate governor Rizalina Seachon Lanete

Masbate governor, and former 3rd district congresswoman Rizalina Seachon-Lanete was axed by the Office of the Ombudsman from her post for the anomalous utilization of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) amounting to P112.29 million between 2007 and 2009. Seachon is being detained in Bicutan, Taguig City. Also included in the […]

Proposed boulevard in north Legazpi city will boost tourism

LEGAZPI CITY -– The booming tourism industry here will get a boost as the city locates a new boulevard to be constructed in its northern part anytime next year after the completion of all the necessary requirements, permits and clearances, Mayor Noel E. Rosal said in an interview. The proposed […]

What's Throwback

The School Bands Rock the Town Fiesta

With every observance of the town fiesta here in Calabanga, we also look forward to the drum and bugle corps that now has been transformed and adapted to the current trend- a band more apt to the occasion. The cacophony of sound and music more enlivens the festive mood.

Rita Azur, Scion of a Sibobo Clan of Calabanga

Visiting the seaside village of Sibobo brings back some memories of the distant past on this writer. But while our main purpose was only to revisit and take some photos of the place, there was one unintended surprise waiting for us. It was also an unannouced visit to one good and grandlady of the barangay.

Manila Standard Today Posted Erroneous Title of Masbate Sea Mishap

It isn’t funny anymore with the not-once-in-a-blue-moon errors of national dailies on news coverages which detail events outside Manila. This time, have you noticed the news from Manila Standard Today about the “Ship sinks off Bohol, 2 killed, 12 missing” posted on Jun. 15, 2013 at 12:02am and bylined by […]

Bicol sends off 25 truckloads of relief goods for eastern Samar Monday

A convoy of twenty five truckloads of relief goods from Bicol intended for Leyte and Samar leaves Matnog port in Sorsogon Monday and will arrive at their destinations on the same day, a regional official of the Office of Civil Defense said. Rafael Bernardo Alejandro, civi defense regional director, on […]

Gov. Villafuerte bats for an Express tollway in Camarines Sur

A proposed 15.2 kilometer road project traversing communities in the municipalities of San Fernando, Minalabac and Pili is being eyed by governor Miguel Luis Villafuerte as a possible priority public-private partnership (PPP) project in the province of Camarines Sur. Envisioned as the Camarines Sur Express Tollway project, the new road […]

If Albay paid sing and dance talent P350-K, was it good governance?

It is not easy telling the organizers of the just recently concluded Fiesta Tsinoy Chinese Lunar new year celebration last Thursday to stop importing Manila-based so-called entertainers. The locals love to see paid talents sing and gyrate on the stage, and attempt to say a few Bicol words which all […]